Pregnancy Risks: 10 Factors You Can Manage for a Healthy Pregnancy

Many factors affect the development of a fetus into a healthy
child, some which are beyond your control and others that are
within your control. Here are ten of the most common pregnancy
risk factors that can be controlled or influenced:

1. Smoking – Smoking is not only bad for you, but bad for your
   baby as well. Smoking during pregnancy reduces the amount of
   oxygen that the baby receives and increases the risk of
   miscarriage, bleeding, and morning sickness. Chemicals inhaled
   while smoking may lead to other health problems with the baby.
   Reduced birth weight, premature birth, increased risk of SIDS,
   and stillbirth are other possible consequences. Pregnant women
   should also avoid second hand smoke.
2. Alcohol – Drinking can cause fetal alcohol syndrome,
   including symptoms like low birth weight, medical problems, and
   behavior abnormalities. As soon as you know you are pregnant,
   stop drinking. For more detailed information on problems that
   can be caused by alcohol, visit http://www.nofas.org.
3. Caffeine – There are many conflicting studies about
   caffeine and pregnancy and some believe that caffeine is not as
   harmful as it was once thought to be. Nevertheless, the FDA
   warns against caffeine consumption during pregnancy and suggests
   quitting or reducing consumption at the very least. Caffeine has
   been shown to affect fetal heart rates and awake time (fetuses
   grow when sleeping). Decaffeinated coffee can also be harmful
   since producers often add additional chemicals to remove the
   caffeine. Caffeine can also increase risk of stretch marks.
   Suddenly quitting coffee intake can cause headaches; so most
   experts recommend gradually reducing the amount consumed.
4. Drugs and Herbal Remedies – Always be careful about drugs
   or herbal remedies that are not prescribed by a doctor. These
   substances may affect the development of your unborn child.
5. Nutrition – Good nutrition is crucial to a developing
   child, particularly getting enough folic acid. Lack of folic
   acid can cause birth defects. At least 400-1000 micrograms of
   this B vitamin is suggested (about ten times more if you’ve
   already had a child with neural tube birth defects) starting one
   month before pregnant and throughout the entire pregnancy. Leafy
   vegetables, orange juice, and beans are some natural sources of
   folic acid. Many stores sell vitamins with folic acid.
6. Exercise – Moderate exercise is helpful as it improves the
   mother’s mental state and can increase oxygen flow to the fetus.
   However, over-exertion can be dangerous. Most experts recommend
   reducing your exercise intensity during pregnancy. Activities
   like walking, swimming, and yoga are popular for pregnant women.
7. Prenatal Care – Regular doctor visits are important to your
   baby’s development. The body undergoes many changes during
   pregnancy. Some side effects may be completely normal, whereas
   other may not. Regular monitoring by a professional will help
   ensure that your baby will be born healthy.
8. Multiple sex partners – Multiple sex partners can increase
   risk of STD’s, which in turn may lead to birth and pregnancy
   complications, like low birth weight or premature birth.
9. Exposure to chemicals – During pregnancy, reduce exposure
   to unnatural chemicals, particularly pesticides in food. Many
   people now eat organic produce, which is grown without
   chemicals. The simplest precaution to take before consuming
   vegetables or fruits is to wash them thoroughly. Also, removing
   the outer surface of vegetables can be helpful since most
   pesticides will rest on the outside of the vegetable or fruit.
10. Other factors – Many other factors can affect fetal
    development, including heart disease, the mother’s age (before
    15 years and after 35 years is riskier), asthma, excessive
    stress or depression, diseases, and bleeding. Consult your
    physician if you are affected by any of these conditions.

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